Cortical Excitability and Typing Performance After Action Observation and Motor Execution

This study will be designed as a randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of motor execution (ME) and action observation (AO) on cortical excitability and fine motor performance, using typing as the target motor task.

A total of 60 healthy university students will be recruited from the University of Sharjah through convenience sampling. Participants will be screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and will provide informed consent prior to enrollment. Eligible participants will then be randomly assigned into three groups (ME, AO, and Control), with stratification based on baseline typing proficiency to ensure balanced motor skill levels across groups.

All participants will undergo a pre-assessment session that will include a 3-minute typing task focused on the index finger and TMS testing targeting the First Dorsal Interosseous (FDI) muscle. TMS measures will include Resting Motor Threshold (RMT), MEP Amplitude, and MEP Latency.

During the intervention phase:

The ME group will perform the typing task for 3 minutes. The AO group will watch a 3-minute point-of-view video of the same typing task. The Control group will receive no intervention and will simply wait between the assessments.

After the intervention, participants in all groups will repeat the same typing task and TMS assessments in the post-assessment phase.

Typing performance will be evaluated using an online typing platform, capturing typing speed (words per minute) and accuracy (percentage of correct characters). TMS data will be collected using the DEYMED DuoMAG XT with consistent coil placement and stimulation parameters. Five reproducible MEPs will be recorded per participant per session to ensure reliability.

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 18 and 26 years
• Healthy university students with no known neurological, psychiatric, or musculoskeletal conditions
• Intact motor functioning of the upper limbs
• Basic typing proficiency using a 10-finger typing method
• Ability to understand study procedures and provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Typing speed less than 16 words per minute
• Use of hunt-and-peck or single-finger typing style
• History of seizures or epilepsy
• Current use of neuroactive medications
• Presence of metallic implants in the head or upper body
• Any contraindications to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
• Left-handed individuals using non-standard typing techniques (unless provided with adapted materials)